(ROCKVILLE, MD, February 22, 2013) The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography® (ARDMS®) announced today that the Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation® (RPVI®) credentialing examination will be offered during select windowed administration periods with the first window administration to begin in November, 2013. Beginning in year 2014, the PVI examination will be offered during two one-month windows each year. The PVI examination will no longer be available on demand year-round. Scores for each window examination period will be available approximately sixty (60) days after the period ends. The last day to apply for on demand testing is May 31, 2013.

The chart below details the administration and application dates. The RPVI section of the ARDMS website also displays this information and allows interested parties to request reminder e-mails for application periods and examination administration dates.

The RPVI credential, exclusively for physicians, validates the clinical expertise fundamental for vascular ultrasound interpretation and provides recognition of the skills and knowledge required to make consistent and accurate diagnoses in vascular disease.

Offering the examination during two windowed test administrations per year will assure that the quality and rigor of the RPVI credentialing examination is maintained. Additionally, windowed administrations will allow for progressive testing technologies and questions to be embedded within the assessment as developed by physician subject matter experts in the practice of vascular ultrasound.

Beginning in 2014, earning the RPVI credential will be a requirement to sit for the American Board of Surgery’s Vascular Surgery Qualifying Examination. Additionally, the RPVI credential is required for completion of many vascular surgery fellowship programs.

“The need for a quality RPVI examination, aligned with primary medical Board recognitions and post medical residency fellowship program requirements demonstrates that employers, insurance companies and the sonography community are placing a high value on RPVI certification,” said Colleen Moore, MD, Chair of the ARDMS PVI Examination Development Task Force. “The certification demonstrates the depth of knowledge, proven experience and a commitment held to patient care.”

The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography® (ARDMS®), incorporated in June 1975, is an independent, nonprofit organization that administers examinations and awards credentials in the areas of musculoskeletal sonography, diagnostic medical sonography, diagnostic cardiac sonography, vascular technology and physician vascular interpretation. ARDMS credentialing programs (RDMS, RDCS, RVT and RPVI) are accredited by ANSI-ISO 17024 and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). ARDMS has nearly 80,000 certified individuals in the U.S., Canada, and throughout the world and is the recognized international standard in sonography credentialing.